Brady Acton ’18 VSB

Brady Acton is a junior Business major from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During his time at Villanova, he has co-created four apps and has been involved in three patents. He’s an up-and-coming entrepreneur who is making the most of the Villanova network.

“When I first arrived at Villanova, I was an ambitious business student with an idea for a social networking app. I connected with the University’s Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ICE) Institute and realized how over my head I was. The ICE Institute connected me with the right people to make my first app a reality,” Brady says.

It’s no surprise that Brady was selected as a Forbes “30 Under 30” Scholar, which is awarded to students with the highest achievements in business or technology. Others have taken note of his success: He’s been featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer and more than 30 international news outlets.

With a year and a half left before he graduates, Brady is already finding ways to give back to Villanova. He recently launched App.ly Consulting, a non-profit that aims to help college students develop mobile and web apps; he volunteered at the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Fall Festival on campus in November; and in January, he was a Service Leader for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

“The help I’ve received from various professors, administrators and fellow students has made my time at Villanova so special. The Villanova community is truly a family—it not only promotes success, but will do anything it takes to bring an idea to fruition.”

About Villanova

Villanova University was founded in 1842 by the Order of St. Augustine. To this day, Villanova’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition is the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University’s six colleges.